MacTech News

Nov 17

Apple Park Visitor Center opens to the public

The Apple Park Visitor Center opened in Cupertino, California, Friday morning, welcoming neighbors and guests from surrounding areas to experience Apple Park’s innovations. It’s is an architectural extension of the new campus (the “spaceship campus”) with similar aesthetics in staircases, stone walls and terrazzo floors.
The Visitor Center’s cantilevered carbon fiber roof appears to float and is only supported by stone clad cores and no other extraneous columns for support. Inviting guests to explore Apple Park in an immersive way, a 3D model of the campus is brought to life by augmented reality technology.
Visitors can learn about the world’s largest naturally ventilated building and view one of the largest on-site solar energy installations in the world. They can also choose to lift the entire roof off the building to peek inside to the collaborative office pod layout.
Guests are also welcome to make their way upstairs to the roof terrace for views of the main building and some of...

Nov 17

Apple issues new developer betas of iOS 11.2, watchOS 4.2, tvOS...

Apple has issued the fourth developer betas of iOS 11.2, watchOS 4.2 and tvOS 11.2. Developers can download the betas through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the App Store.

Nov 17

iHome expands line of Bluetooth Speaker Vanity Mirrors

iHome (www.ihomeaudio.com) is expanding its line of Bluetooth Speaker Vanity Mirrors with the iCVBT10 Reflect Pro model. This flat panel portable telescoping model with Built-in Siri and Google Voice is now available for purchase online and in-store at amazon.com and Bed Bath & Beyond for $199.99.
The biggest mirror in the series (10 x 13 inches) sports a rechargeable battery, includes a distortion-free mirror and has a 3.5-inch removable detail mirror with 10x magnification for the best beauty routine and detailed grooming. With multiple LED lighting options, consumers can listen to music, take phone calls and charge their mobile phones using the iCVBT10.
The iCVBT10 is the latest mirror to join iHome's popular Vanity Mirror line. The iCVBT2, released this summer, is a smaller version and includes built-in Siri and Google Voice ($79.99). Other Vanity Mirrors in the line include the portable, rechargeable 9-inch double-sided iCVBT7 with 7x magnification and the 6-inch double-sided...

Nov 16

Apple releases iOS 11.1.2

Apple has released iOS 11.1.2, which addresses an issue in which some iPhone X models became unresponsive in cold weather. The update also:
° Fixes an issue where the iPhone X screen becomes temporarily unresponsive to touch after a rapid temperature drop
° Addresses an issue that could cause distortion in Live Photos and videos captured with iPhone X
The iOS 11.1.2 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. Go to Settings --> General --> Software Update.

Nov 16

Apple releases fourth developer beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.2

Apple has released the fourth developer beta version of macOS High Sierra 10.13.2. Registered developers can download it from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

Nov 16

IK Multimedia releases iRig Keys I/O 25 & 49 keyboard...

IK Multimedia (www.ikmultimedia.com has announced that iRig Keys I/O, a keyboard controller range featuring a built-in audio interface, is now shipping worldwide.
iRig Keys I/O provides users with a flexible way to complete their music productions from start to end using a single piece of equipment. It comes with either 25 or 49 full-size keys offering a synth-action keybed and integrates a 96kHz/24-bit audio interface with a high-performance Class A preamp allowing users to record their instruments and microphones (including condenser mics requiring 48V phantom power) via its combo 1/4"/XLR input.
Plus, it provides controls such as velocity sensitive, multicolored pads, programmable touch-sensitive sliders, buttons and assignable knobs. iRig Keys I/O is Apple certified MFi hardware (Made for iPhone and iPad) which means it works right out of the box with all iOS devices with a Lightning port, including the latest iPhones.
The included Lightning cable allows for connection to iOS...

Nov 16

DiRT Rally rolls onto the Mac

DiRT Rally is now out for the Mac platform. It’s available from the Feral Store (http://tinyurl.com/y8ym93sw) for $59.99 and will be coming to the Mac App Store soon. DiRT Rally requires macOS 10.13 or higher.
Here’s how the game is described: “Experience all the thrill of racing on the edge in DiRT Rally, the most authentic rally game ever engineered. Strap yourself in and hurtle down the most dangerous tracks in the world, from the drenched pine forests of Wales to the crumbling hillsides of Greece.”

Nov 16

Mapdiva updates Artboard 2 for macOS High Sierra

Mapdiva has released Artboard 2.0.7 for macOS High Sierra. It’s a maintainance update of the drawing software to create crisp vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
Artboard features "smart" objects, direct select tool, a powerful style generator and stacked styles that go way beyond simple fill and stroke, providing a wide range of spectacular effects. Templates help people, such as small business owners, students, hobbyist and 2D game designers, get started on their projects.
Artboard 2.0.7 sells for $39.99 directly from Mapdiva and is also available on the Mac App Store. A demo is available from the Mapdiva website (https://www.mapdiva.com/artboard/).

Nov 16

AKVIS releases Akvis Retoucher 9.0

AKVIS (www.akvis.com) has announced Retoucher 9.0, an upgraded of its photo restoration software. The new version offers a number of Color Correction parameters, the flexible Crop tool, as well as the Vignette option that lightens/darkens the image at its perimeter.
AKVIS Retoucher helps to remove dust, scratches, date stamps and other unwanted details from photos. Also, it’s possible to improve image composition and reconstruct missing parts using the information of the surrounding areas. On the Mac platform, AKVIS Retoucher requires macOS 9.0.12 or higher.
The product is available as a standalone application and as a plugin filter for Adobe Photoshop and other image editors. AKVIS Retoucher, Home license, sells for $87. One license key allows activating and using the software on two computers.
Version 9.0 is free for users who bought Retoucher in the last 12 months. Users, whose license is older and is not valid for the new version, can get Retoucher 9.0 for $14.95.

Nov 15

Maintain Serves Up Cocktail 11.1 (High Sierra Edition)

Maintain has served up Cocktail 11.1 (High Sierra Edition), a new edition of Cocktail for users running macOS High Sierra.
Cocktail is a general purpose utility for macOS that lets users clean, repair and optimize their Macs. This version adds the ability to clear Twitter caches and macOS High Sierra 10.13.1 compatibility. It also has performance tweaks and bug fixes.
Cocktail costs $19 for a single user license. A demo is available for download (http://www.maintain.se/cocktail).

Nov 15

KeyCue 8.6 for macOS comes with new and improved themes

Ergonis Software has released KeyCue 8.6, a new version of the keyboard shortcut “cheat sheet” for the Mac.
KeyCue displays an instant overview of the currently available keyboard shortcuts; application-specific menu shortcuts as well as system-wide hotkeys and user-defined shortcut descriptions. Version 8.6 ships with new Tioga and Tenaya themes and offers improvements with regard to installation, usability, speed, and overall stability.
KeyCue 8.6 requires macOS 10.6 or higher. The upgrade to version 8.6 is free for anyone who owns a license for KeyCue 8 or who purchased a license for KeyCue 7 on or after March 1, 2015. Upgrade paths are available for owners of older licenses. For new users the price is $19.99.

Nov 14

Star Micronics announces Apple Certified AirPrint POS Printer

POS printer manufacturer Star Micronics (http://star-emea.com) has officially received certification for the first Apple AirPrint POS printer: the $376 Star TSP654II AirPrint. This company says it’s the first 80 and 58mm receipt and ticket POS printer on the market to be Apple AirPrint certified.
AirPrint provides mobile printing solutions for Apple’s iPad, iPhone, iPod and MacBook users on any private network with the key objective to be able to wirelessly print via the customer’s network without installing specific printer drivers. With AirPrint support pre-installed on iOS devices, the user is able to connect to and print from the required printer.
Star’s TSP654II boasts a 300mm/second print speed, 203 dpi print output, and a compact footprint. The printer can be used in vertical or horizontal mode and includes a wall mount bracket in the box as standard. Available in charcoal black or ultra white casing, the printer matches the Star CB2002 cash drawer options. There’s also a...

Nov 14

Foundry376 launches Mailspring for macOS High Sierra

Foundry376 has launched Mailspring (https://getmailspring.com), a desktop email client designed for macOS High Sierra.
It sports features such as an unified inbox, snoozing, reminders, templates, offline search, and support for Gmail labels. It comes with six built-in themes. The app offers mail rules and customizable keyboard shortcuts.
Mailspring is free and supports all IMAP providers, including Gmail, Office 365 and iCloud. You can swipe to triage mail, see Quicklook thumbnails for attachments, and reply to emails directly from the Notification Center. Mailspring’s email sync has been built from the ground up to use macOS features like App Nap, ensuring it keeps your mailbox up to date without draining your battery, according to the folks at Foundry376.

Nov 13

Acclivity releases AccountEdge Pro 2018 for macOS, Windows

Acclivity has released AccountEdge Pro 2018, an upgrade of the small business accounting native desktop software for macOS and Windows.
“Since Intuit announced that QuickBooks for Mac will be discontinued, we’ve been more focused than ever on investing in our desktop accounting software,” says Scott Davisson, Acclivity’s co-founder. “Cloud computing is great, and we have AccountEdge Connect, our optional cloud-based add-on, but there are thousands of small businesses who still want the choice of using native desktop accounting software. AccountEdge 2018 is another big step in that direction.”
With AccountEdge 2018, detailed guides are available to help the transfer of key financial data and a $100 rebate is available for previous QuickBooks owners switching to AccountEdge Pro. Resources and more information are available online (accountedge.com/quickbooks-alternative/). Other new features in AccountEdge 2018:
° You can view all your job details in one window, add custom lists and...

Nov 13

Apple releases four new developer betas

Apple has released new developer betas of macOS 10.13.2, iOS 11.2, watchOS 4.2, and tvOS 11.2 Developers can download the betas through the Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the App Store.

Nov 13

Output Factory for Adobe InDesign addresses macOS Security Bug -

Zevrix Solutions has announced Output Factory 2.2.2, a maintenance update to company's output automation solution for Adobe InDesign.
Output Factory automates printing, exporting and preflighting from InDesign and offers batch processing, export as single pages, layer versioning, preflighting and more. The new version addressed a macOS security bug that invoked app translocation for no reason, which prevented Output Factory from recognizing the version of InDesign the plug-in was installed with.
Output Factory can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for $169.95 (there’s a “lite” version for $119.95). A demo is available for download. The update is free for the users of Output Factory 2.x, and $84.97 to upgrade from BatchOutput and Output Factory 1.x. Output Factory requires macOS 10.7-10.13 and Adobe InDesign CS3-CC 2018.

Nov 13

Putty for Mac 8.7.0 adds macOS High Sierra support

Wine Reviews has released Putty for Mac 8.7.0 (https://winonmacs.com), an update of its terminal emulator for macOS.
Putty supports different types of network protocols such as SSH, FTP, SCP, Telnet and more. Version 8.7.0 now supports macOS 10.13.1 High Sierra, compiled against the latest stable GTK version 3.22.20, updates the documentation, and minor bug fixes.
Putty for Mac 8.7.0 requires macOS 10.9.5 or higher. It costs $15. Anyone who has purchased Putty in the past three months is entitled to a free upgrade to version 8.7.0.

Nov 10

Apple updates Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for macOS

Apple has updated Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for macOS to, respectively versions 6.3.1, 7.3.1, and 4.3.1. All offer stability and performance improvements.
Pages is a word processing app for macOS. Keynote lets you create presentations and slides. Numbers is a spreadsheet app. The upgrades are available at the Mac App Store.

Nov 10

TDF releases Mac-compatible LibreOffice 5.4.3

The Document Foundation (TDF) has announced LibreOffice 5.4.3 (http://www.libreoffice.org/download/) , the third minor release of LibreOffice 5.4 family.
LibreOffice is macOS compatible and comprises programs for word processing, the creation and editing of spreadsheets, slideshows, diagrams and drawings, working with databases, and composing mathematical formulae. The new version includes approximately 50 bug and regression fixes.
LibreOffice users, free software advocates and community members can support The Document Foundation with a donation at http://www.libreoffice.org/donate/. Donations help TDF to maintain its infrastructure, share knowledge, and organize events such as the Month of LibreOffice.

Nov 09

Clips update introduces Selfie Scenes for the iPhone X

Apple has announced a major update to Clips, the free app for iOS that makes it easy to create and share videos using an iPhone or iPad. The upgrade introduces Selfie Scenes and adds artistic style transfer effects and a redesigned interface.
Selfie Scenes is a new feature that places users into animated, 360-degree scenes when recording selfies. Using the TrueDepth camera system on iPhone X, Selfie Scenes transports users into bustling cities, serene landscapes, abstract paintings and even the Millennium Falcon and Mega-Destroyer from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” says Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Apps Product Marketing.
With Selfie Scenes, users can choose from 10 Apple-designed scenes, featuring unique locations, characters, colors and visual styles plus two scenes from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” Each scene is a full 360-degree experience, so it surrounds users on all sides as they move iPhone X. And environmental sound effects make scenes even more immersive.
New...

Nov 09

Apple releases iOS 11.1.1 with fix for keyboard auto-correct...

Apple has released iOS 11.1.1. You can download it on all iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings --> General --> Software Update.
iOS 11.1. fixes an issue with keyboard auto-correct that causes "i" to autocorrect to A[?]. It also fixes an issue where “Hey Siri” stops working.

Nov 09

PDF2ID 2018 is ready for macOS High Sierra

Recosoft (www,recosoft.com) has rolled out PDF2ID 2018, the latest version of its PDF to InDesign plug-in for Adobe InDesign CC 2018.
It converts PDF and Windows XPS files into fully editable InDesign files, allowing PDF and XPS file content recovery and reuse within InDesign. The new version supports macOS 10.13, adds support for Adobe InDesign CC 2018, as well as includes architectural improvements and enhancements related to image handling and table conversions.
PDF2ID 2018 requires macOS 10.8 or higher. It’s available in a variety of configurations from the Recosoft web store: PDF2ID Standard 2018 ($199); DF2ID Professional 2018 ($299), PDF2ID Standard 2018 Upgrade ($99), and PDF2ID Professional 2018 Upgrade ($149).

Nov 09

ChronoSync for macOS revved to version 4.8.3

Econ Technologies (www.econtechnologies.com) has released ChronoSync 4.8.3 for macOS, an update of the multipurpose app for local and cloud backup, bootable clones and folder synchronizing.
This update implements work-arounds and enhances the error reporting to account for potential issues when running on High Sierra. Other issues addressed are related to the Scheduler, Google Cloud API changes, Validator performance, and potential False Mount point connections for external volumes, with a host of other tweaks and usability improvements.
ChronoSync 4.8.3 works on macOS version 10.10 and newer. It costs $49.99; a demo is available for download.

Nov 09

Apple opens Everyone Can Code initiatives to students worldwide

Apple has announced the global expansion of its Everyone Can Code initiative to more than 20 colleges and universities outside of the U.S. These schools will now offer the App Development with Swift Curriculum, a full-year course designed by Apple engineers and educators to teach coding and app design to students of all levels and backgrounds.
RMIT University, Australia’s largest higher education institution, is one of the broadest international deployments of the App Development with Swift Curriculum to date. As part of its commitment to improving digital literacy, starting this month RMIT will offer the App Development with Swift curriculum through RMIT Online, and a new vocational course will be taught on campus. RMIT will also offer scholarships for school teachers who want to learn coding, and a free summer school course at RMIT’s City campus will give secondary students the chance to learn the basics of coding, says Martin Bean CBE, RMIT University vice chancellor and president...

Nov 09

LinkOptimizer for Adobe InDesign Addresses Apple Security Bug

Zevrix Solutions has announced LinkOptimizer 5.2.2, a maintenance update to company's workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign.
LinkOptimizer lets users automatically scale and crop images to their InDesign dimensions at specified target resolution, convert image formats, adjust colors and more. The new version addressed a macOS security bug that invoked app translocation for no reason, which prevented LinkOptimizer from recognizing the version of InDesign the plug-in was installed with.
LinkOptimizer can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for $259.95 (there’s also a “lite” version for $179.95). A demo is available for download. The update is free for LinkOptimizer 5.x users and $130 to upgrade from previous versions. LinkOptimizer requires macOS 10.7-10.13 and Adobe InDesign / Photoshop CS5-CC 2018.

Nov 08

Red Giant announces Final Cut Pro X compatible Universe 2.2

Red Giant has just announced the arrival of Universe 2.2, putting 11 new transition tools – 76 transitions and effects in total – into the hands of editors and motion graphics artists. In addition to brand new transitions, Red Giant has made updates to two existing plugins and added support for Avid Media Composer.
Red Giant Universe tools run in Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe After EffectsCC, Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, HitFilm, Magix Vegas Pro and now Avid Media Composer. Universe is available as an annual subscription ($99/year) or as a monthly subscription ($20/month). New Red Giant Universe customers can purchase a subscription or download a free trial at http://redgiant.com/universe.

Nov 08

Sonnet is shipping its eGFX Breakaway Box 550

Sonnet Technologies is shipping its eGFX Breakaway Box (http://tinyurl.com/y73krnlq) with 550-watt power supply. It’s the latest in the company's series of Thunderbolt 3 to PCI Express (PCIe) eGPU expansion chassis for professional graphics and gaming applications.
The eGFX Breakaway Box 550 provides a single slot for connecting any size Thunderbolt-compatible GPU card, and features enough room for even high-performance water cooler cards. The unit is equipped with a single 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 port that enables data transfers up to 2,750 MB/s, and supports Thunderbolt-compatible cards with popular GPU chipsets — such as AMD Radeon and Radeon Pro; NVIDIA GeForce, TITAN XP, and Quadro cards.
In addition, the Breakaway Box 550 includes two eight-pin auxiliary power connectors and provides 87 watts of upstream power (power delivery), useful for powering and charging a connected notebook computer. It has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $349.

Nov 08

STARDOM announces Thunderbolt 3 storage solutions

STARDOM has a released a Thunderbolt 3 storage solution, available in capacities from 2-bay to 8-bay, with or without Hardware RAID. The solutions are targeted to video, audio, and photo professionals.
All STARDOM Thunderbolt 3 RAID storages come with a hardware RAID controller inside. It’s designed to offer reliability and enhanced productivity by keeping systems running at full performance even in the event of a complete volume rebuild.
The 8-bay, rack-mount type DR8-TB3, which supports hardware RAID 0/5/6, is ready for shipping. Other models are due soon. For more information, visit www.STARDOM.com.tw .

Nov 08

AKVIS Sketch Video for macOS updated to version 3.1

AKVIS (www.akvis.com) has released AKVIS Sketch Video 3.1 an update of the After Effects and Premiere Pro plugin for converting videos into animated cartoons, both black and white and color. The new version provides full compatibility with Premiere Pro CC 2018 and After Effects CC 2018.
AKVIS Sketch Video offers two drawing styles: Classic and Artistic, each with a number of ready-to-use presets for 4K, HD, and SD video formats. The Classic style produces contour lines; the Artistic style imitates hand-drawn animation. Both styles offer a variety of
AKVIS Sketch Video requires macOS 10l7 and higher. It costs $69 for the home version and $99 for the pro edition. One license key allows activating the software on two computers. Version 3.1 is a free update for users who bought or upgraded Sketch Video in the last 12 months. Users whose license is older and is not valid for the new version can get Sketch Video 3.1 for $14.95. A demo is available for download.

Nov 08

CS Odessa announces updated ConceptDraw Pro 11

CS Odessa (www.conceptdraw.com) has unveiled ConceptDraw Pro 11, a new version of its business graphics and diagramming tool for macOS and Windows.
It provides a range of business graphic documentation solutions with thousands of stencils and hundreds of templates for rapid diagramming. ConceptDraw Pro 11 boasts improved drawing speeds and other performance improvements.
ConceptDraw Pro 11 retails for $199. It’s also included in ConceptDraw Office 4, which retails for $499.

Nov 07

Retrospect 14.6 for Mac is now available

Retrospect has announced product enhancements for its data protection suite with the release of Retrospect 14.6 for Mac and Retrospect 12.6 for Window. Both offer could storage integration with DigitalOcean Spaces, Google Cloud Storage locations in Frankfurt, Germany and São Paulo, Brazil and Aufiero Informatica in Argentina.
Cloud backup to third-party cloud storage providers allows Retrospect customers a seamless way to protect their Mac, Windows, and Linux environment off-site. With these new cloud storage locations, IT administrators have even more choices for their off-site protection. A full list of certified providers is available at retrospect.com/cloudcertified. According to Jean-Christian Dumas, vice president of Worldwide Sales Retrospect, Retrospect for Mac now included the following new features:
° Retrospect's daily backup report email has been improved to support better analytics for large-scale environments with hundreds of clients, with a high-level summary, a section...

Nov 07

Minder Softworks releases Photonium web browser for the Mac

Minder Softworks has announced Photonium, a minimalist web browser for macOS (10.11 and higher). It offers the unique ability to view photos stored in Apple's Photos app in a separate pane.
This capability allows users to drag and drop photos to upload to Craigslist, eBay, Amazon Prints, Wordpress sites, and more. Traditionally, users who have their photos organized in Photos.app are unable to drag from Photos directly into their web browser to upload images. Instead, they must save images from the software to their desktop or other folder, switch applications to their browser, then upload their files. This then leaves the extra image files on their desktop or in another folder, which must then be deleted.
Photonium simplifies this process by combining a minimalist web browser with a Photo library browser. Users slick a button in Photonium's window title bar to reveal the images and movies that are saved in Photos. They can view by album and adjust the size of the thumbnail. Once the...

Nov 07

The iPhone X coming to 13 more countries on Nov. 24

Apple says the iPhone X will arrive in 13 additional countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa as well as Macau on Friday, Nov. 24.
Ordering for the next gen Apple smartphone started in some countries on Oct. 27 with the first units shipping Nov. 3. The iPhone X comes in 64GB and 256GB models with pricing starting at $999.

Nov 07

Scorpion Barcode 2.90 is optimized for macOS High Sierra

Scorpion Research (http://www.scorpionresearch.com) has released Scorpion BarCode 2.90, an update to its barcode creation software for macOS 10.6 and higher.
The app is designed to help users create and print all major barcode symbologies in EPS, PDF, PNG, or TIFF file formats. You can integrate barcodes into database, spreadsheet and word processor applications. A command line version is also provided to build scripted solutions.
Version 2.90 is optimized for macOS High Sierra. It also adds support for EAN-Velocity and Telepen.
A demo of Scorpion BarCode 2.80 is available for download. A single user license costs $130. Multiple users and educational discounts are available.

Nov 07

Foto Photo Editor for macOS gets performance enhancements, more

Everimaging Science and Technology has announced Fotor Photo Editor 3.4.1, an update to their photo editor for macOS.
The app offers photo editing tools, batch processing of images, a collage maker, a tilt-shift editor to give images improved depth-of-field, 15 different one-tap photo enhancements, and more. Version 3.4.1 offers performance enhancements and bug fixes.
Fotor Photo Editor 3.4.1 requires macOS 10.9 or later. It’s free, and is available worldwide exclusively through the Mac App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/app/id503039729). In-app purchases are available for $3.99 per month or $11.99 annually to access premium features, which include more photo effects updates, packages of frames, and more.

Nov 07

HITMAN—Game of the Year Edition comes to the Mac

HITMAN – Game of the Year Edition is now available on the Mac. Developed by Io-Interactive for Windows and consoles, it’s brought to macOS and Linux by Feral Interactive.
As master assassin Agent 47, players will carry out contract hits on powerful, high-profile targets in exotic locations around the world. Each mission is set in a detailed and heavily-populated sandbox level that challenges players to complete it in the most creative way possible. HITMAN – Game of the Year Edition includes the complete first season; the Patient Zero mission arc, and three new Escalation mission packs.
Players can buy HITMAN – Game of the Year Edition from the Feral Store (http://tinyurl.com/ycllldvg) for $61.51. If they already own some HITMAN content, they can complete their Game of the Year bundle on Steam.
HITMAN — Game of the Year Edition is supported on: all 27-inch iMacs released since Late 2014; all 15-inch MacBook Pros released since 2016; and all Mac Pros released since Late 2013. All 15-...

Nov 07

Apple issues a statement of facts about its tax payments

Apple has issued a statement on its controversial tax payments:
Apple believes every company has a responsibility to pay its taxes, and as the largest taxpayer in the world, Apple pays every dollar it owes in every country around the world. We’re proud of the economic contributions we make to the countries and communities where we do business.
We’re presenting the facts on this page in response to reporting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Among the inaccuracies in these reports:
° The changes Apple made to its corporate structure in 2015 were specially designed to preserve its tax payments to the United States, not to reduce its taxes anywhere else. No operations or investments were moved from Ireland.
° Far from being “untouched by the United States,” Apple pays billions of dollars in taxes to the US at the statutory 35 percent rate on investment income from its overseas cash.
° Apple’s effective tax rate on foreign earnings is 21 percent — a figure...

Nov 06

Apple releases second developer betas of its operating systems

Apple has released second developer beta releases of watchOS 4.2. iOS 11.2, macOS 10.13.2, and tvOS 11.2. Registered developers can download them from Apple's Developer Center — or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

Nov 06

Output Factory for Adobe InDesign Now Supports Creative Cloud...

Zevrix Solutions has announced Output Factory 2.2.1, a compatibility update to company's output automation solution for Adobe InDesign.
Output Factory automates printing, exporting and post-processing from InDesign and offers batch processing, export as single pages, variable file names, layer versioning, preflighting, detailed history and more. The new version makes Output Factory compatible with the recently released InDesign CC 2018 and improves the reliability of multi-format workflow output.
Output Factory can be purchased from the Zevrix website (www.zevrix.com) for $169.95 (there’s a “lite” version for $119.95). A demo is available for download. The update is free for the users of Output Factory 2.x, and $84.97 to upgrade from BatchOutput and Output Factory 1.x. Output Factory requires macOS 10.7-10.13 and Adobe InDesign CS3-CC 2018.

Nov 06

Cognito Software releases MoneyWorks Datacentre 8 for macOS

Cognito Software (https://cognito.co.nz) has released MoneyWorks Datacentre 8, extensible accounting and business system for macOS.
With the ability to script and even design new native Mac windows, the software can now be extended to incorporate the special requirements of small-medium enterprises. MoneyWorks has the ability to share data with both cloud and in-house systems such as Excel or FileMaker.
MoneyWorks Datacentre 8 is fully cross platform on Mac and Windows, and scales to over 100 concurrent users. As well as the extensibility offered by the scripting and user-interface builder, the core software includes multi-location inventory, serial/batch tracking, multi-currency, report writers, time-billing and job costing, all integrated with a multi-dimensional general ledger.
A 45-day demo is available for download. MoneyWorks offers monthly subscriptions or the option of purchasing your own perpetual license.

Nov 03

Wireless display market to be worth $5.38 billion by 2023

The wireless display market was estimated at $2.86 billion in 2017. This market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1% and is expected to be worth $5.38 billion by 2023, according to Research and Markets (www.researchandmarkets.com).
The wireless display technology involves peer-to-peer media transmission between a compatible display device to a larger display without the use of wires. This allows easier setup and use in all applications.
The technology can be used to transmit pictures, video, and other OTT-based content from one compatible display device to other. The wireless display has applications in the consumer segment, which is dominated by technology giants such as Apple, Google, and Amazon. The wireless display technology also has applications in the commercial subsegments such as corporate, healthcare, and education.
The widespread use of devices such as smartphones, tablets, sSmart TVs, and computers have facilitated the growth of the market in these...

Nov 02

Apple services revenue reaches an all time high

Apple has announced the financial results for its fiscal 2017 fourth quarter that ended Sept. 30. The tech giant posted quarterly revenue of $52.6 billion, an increase of 12% from the year-ago quarter, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $2.07, up 24%. International sales accounted for 62% of the quarter’s revenue.
“We’re happy to report a very strong finish to a great fiscal 2017, with record fourth quarter revenue, year-over-year growth for all our product categories, and our best quarter ever for Services,” CEO Tim Cook said in a press release. “With fantastic new products including iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple Watch Series 3, and Apple TV 4K joining our product lineup, we’re looking forward to a great holiday season, and with the launch of iPhone X getting underway right now, we couldn’t be more excited as we begin to deliver our vision for the future with this stunning device.”
“Apple’s year-over-year revenue growth rate accelerated for the fourth consecutive quarter...

Nov 02

GarageBand for iOS brings new Sound Library and classic Beat...

Apple has announced an update to GarageBand for iOS that provides even more creative options for making music on iPhone and iPad. For instance, it introduces a new GarageBand Sound Library, where users can select and download a variety of free sound packs featuring new instruments and loops.
Beat makers can tap into a new Beat Sequencer instrument inspired by classic drum machines. The app also features new Asian Touch Instruments and updates to Drummer, including six additional players.
With the GarageBand Sound Library users can now preview and download new Apple-designed sounds and instruments right within the app. These free, downloadable sound packs contain a variety of Touch Instruments, Apple loops, Live Loops templates, guitar and instrument presets and more. Users can access the Sound Library from multiple places within GarageBand and will receive alerts when new sound packs are available. Initial sound packs include Future Bass, Reggaeton, Beat Sequencer kits, guitar amp...

Nov 01

LCFM Native offers syncing and extended platform

LiveCode has announced a new piece of technology for FileMaker users.
LCFM Native will take an existing FileMaker layout and convert it to a native app, faithfully preserving the layout, on any LiveCode supported platform, while still using the FileMaker database. Supported platforms include macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux.
This technology will mean online and offline syncing in any environment becomes possible, according to LiveCode CEO Kevin Miller. FileMaker solutions may be used on portable devices including Android, with the ability to add rich media and native app features, he adds.
LCFM Native is currently a prototype, development is being undertaken in conjunction with .com Solutions. Users are being asked to support the Pre-Release program to fund this initiative at https://filemaker.livecode.com/native.

Nov 01

Cisdem releases AppCrypt 3.6 for macOS

Cisdem has updated AppCrypt for Mac, an app that gives users the ability to password protect their apps, to version 3.6.
It can password protect iPhoto, iTunes, Contacts, Facebook or any other applications on your Mac. To use it, you set a password and add the apps to the lock list. No one can access the protected apps unless they have the correct password. Version 3.6 sports user face improvements and the ability to show windows to enter a password when double clicking the running app.
AppCrypt is available now at the Cisdem website (www.cisdem.com). A single license of AppCrypt costs $24.99. A license for two Macs costs $39.99 and one for five is $59.99. A demo is available for download.

Nov 01

Photo Sense for macOS upgraded to version 2.1

VeprIT has announced Photo Sense 2.1 for the Mac. It’s an update of the lightweight bulk photo post-processing tool.
Photo Sense 2.1 sports batch adjustment tools, image settings synchronization, and custom presets. Version 2.1 improves the exposure and automatic enhancement algorithms.
Photo Sense 2.1 requires macOS 10.9 or later. It’s free on the Mac App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/app/photo-sense/id425404097). However, a promotional watermark is added to the exported images; it can be removed with an $19.99 in-app purchase.

Oct 31

tvOS 11.1 deals with the KRACK WPA2 vulnerability

Apple has upgraded tvOS for the Apple TV to version 11.1. It’s a maintenance update that includes, among other things, a fix for the KRACK WPA2 vulnerability in devices with Wi-Fi.
The vulnerability allowed a malicious hacker to bypass WPA2 encryption on Wi-Fi networks and making a user's data easy to view. tvOS 11.1 also includes other bug fixes and security improvements.
To upgrade, launch the Settings app on your Apple TV. Go to System → Software Updates → Update Software. tvOS will search for an available update. Once it’s “found,” just follow the on-screen prompts to proceed.

Oct 31

Apple revs iTunes for the Mac to version 12.7.1

Apple has updated iTunes for macOS to version 12.7.1. It’s available at the Mac App Store.
Apple says the upgrade includes minor app and performance improvements. iTunes for macOS now focuses on music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. Apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch are now exclusively available in the Apple App Store.

Oct 31

Apple rolls out macOS 10.13.1

Apple has launched macOS 10.13.1. It’s available at the Mac App Store. The update includes support for the latest emoji characters. It also:
° Fixes a bug where Bluetooth may be unavailable during Apple Pay transactions;
° Improves the reliability of Microsoft Exchange message sync in Mail;
° Fixes an issue where Spotlight may not accept keyboard input.

Oct 31

Apple posts iOS 11.1 for the iPhone and iPad

Apple has released iOS 11.1 for the iPhone and iPad. It adds over 70 new emoji characters including new food types, animals, mythical creatures, clothing options, more expressive smiley faces, gender-neutral characters and more. It also has several enhancements and bug fixes.
For the Photos app, iOS 11.1:
° Resolves an issue that could cause some photos to appear blurry;
° Addresses an issue that could cause Live Photo effects to playback slowly;
° Fixes an issue that could cause some photos to not display in the People album when restoring from an iCloud Backup;
° Fixes an issue that could impact performance when swiping between screenshots.
Regarding accessibility, iOS 11.1:
° Improves braille support for Grade 2 input;
° Improves VoiceOver access to multi-page PDFs;
° Improves VoiceOver rotor actions for announcing incoming notifications;
° Improves VoiceOver rotor actions menu when removing an app from the App Switcher;
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